Wood Duck 12" x 12" acrylic $950

Here is another in the series of contemporary wildlife paintings. This one portrays and handsome wood duck drake with his reflection. I have been traveling the past week and will continue to do so through next Tuesday. Along the way, I have gathered a ton of wildlife reference for many daily paintings and studio paintings and am very excited to get back "to the easel" (which is really a large drafting table).
My Website

Great Blue 12" x 16" acrylic $2300

This painting is for a show in Paso Robles this weekend called the Cattlemen's Western Art Show. It depicts a mature great blue heron standing next to a wetland. This particular bird was seen in Newport Bay, OR as I was getting reference for Pacific Brant - a federal duck stamp species this year. Herons always are intriguing because of their size and striking plumage. The white feathers and the long dark feathers behind the head are in the process of growing out here. By mating season, they will be long and elegant and perfect to attract a mate.
My Website

Common Loon 12" x 12" acrlic on wrapped canvas $950

Here is another contemporary painting depicting a common loon. This is the second in a series of paintings being done in this style. It is very freeing loosening up and I am enjoying the break from the tight realism that normally defines my work. I mentioned a quail would be next, but it needed more work so it will be posted soon.
My Website

Northern Pintail 12" x 12" acrylic on wrapped canvas $950

This painting is somewhat of a departure from my normal realism. Although the pintail is realistically painted, the rest is somewhat abstracted. The inspiration to paint in this contemporary style came from a painting of an oak tree that a friend of mine bought and I thought that a contemporary painting with wildlife in it could be just as intriguing. I feel good about the results - so much so, in fact, that I am going to paint some more. (I've already finished a quail like this - look for it tomorrow).

My Website

Blue Jay 5" x 7" acrylic

SOLD
This painting along with the previous cardinal painting are both commissions. Here, a blue jay gets ready to leap off of a whitetail shed that lays among fallen leaves and dead branches of the forest floor. The broken tine is perhaps the result of a battle that happened months ago during the rut. Antlers of a whitetail deer differ from those of a mule deer in that the tines of a whitetail branch off a single beam. The antlers of both mule deer and blacktail deer branch into seperate forks (most of the time).

If you would like to see a step-by-step progression of this painting - Click Here.

My Website
My Blog

Winter Cardinal 5" x 7" acrylic

SOLD

A handsome cardinal sits atop a snowbound pine bough. This painting originally did not have the branch in the upper righthand corner and in a sketch the design seemed fine without it. When I thought the painting was getting near completion though, that corner seemed very empty so it was painted in. The angle of the branch lends assistance to the directional gaze of the cardinal.

My Website

In the Sage 4" x 4" acrylic $225

A lone coyote works hunts for rodents that may be hidden below the tapestry of sage. I focused on creating depth in this daily painting by adding the various aspects of the open landscape. The ribbon of water is the Lamar River in Yellowstone National Park.
My Website

Bald Eagle 5" x 7" acrylic $275

A adult bald eagle rests on a tree branch while surveying the area around him for prey. Eagles are numerous in the Willamette Valley during the winter months and easy to see. However, most of them migrate north as Spring arrives so seeing them in the summer is a much tougher prospect. I painted this one among the exposed tangles of branches which are just as much a part of the composition as the eagle.
My Website